The Outer Banks of North
Carolina from space showing the approximate
position of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.
This photo was taken by the Apollo 9 astronauts
3/12/69, during their 136th orbit of Earth. (photo:
NASA)

A side view illustration of
the current position of the Monitor on the sea
floor. Note the turret has slipped off and is
visible, even though the ship is upside-down.
(illustration: Jeff Johnston)

An illustration of the
Monitor as seen from above it's current position.
(illustration: Jeff Johnston)

Image compiled from a series
of video stills by Jeff Johnston of the Monitor
NMS. This image (from the port stern) shows the
location of the Monitor's turret and how it
supports the wreck off of the bottom. The area
under the armor belt is the area targeted for
stabilization by NOAA. (photo: Monitor
NMS)

One of the turret gun ports.
The rod projecting out was used to secure wood
"bucklers" to the outside of the turret. The
bucklers were then caulked and sealed to prevent
water from entering the gun ports during the
Monitor's ocean trip south. (photo: Monitor
NMS)

The Monitor's armor belt is
resting on its displaced turret, upside down. The
armor belt is at the top of the photo. (photo:
Monitor NMS)

The framing around the main
engine. (photo: Monitor NMS)

View of the Monitor's bow
showing how the currents scour out around areas of
the wreck. (photo: Monitor NMS)

Image compiled from a series
of video stills by Jeff Johnston of the Monitor
National Marine Sanctuary. Although there is a
distinct amount of distortion from the camera, this
image shows some of the significant collapse that
has occurred over the years. (photo: Monitor
NMS)

View across the forward area
of the wreck looking aft. Shows the significant
collapse of the midships bulkhead. The structure to
the right is the now displaced "turret support
truss" and marks the original location of the
monitor's turret. (photo: Monitor NMS)

Bent and bowed deck support
stanchions and the angled ends of "floor beams"
along the port boiler. (photo: Monitor
NMS)

View looking aft through what
was the port side coal bunker. The armor belt is to
the left of the bunker. (photo: Monitor
NMS)

Stairway on the starboard
side of the fire room that led up to the engine
platform. (photo: US Navy)

Illustrations of the
mechanics of the engine from the side and top
views. (illustration: Jeff Johnston)

Port side view of the
Monitor's vibrating side lever engine under the
engine frames and platform.

The Monitor is also a
habitat. It attracts larval animals which attach to
the structure and form an artificial reef, which in
turn attracts other sea life. This image was taken
from the Clelia submersible. (photo: Monitor
NMS)

An oyster toadfish
(Opsanus tau) rests on the side of the
USS Monitor.

A Manta (Manta
birostris) flies over the Monitor while Navy
divers take a break from their mission to look on
in awe. (photo: Monitor NMS)